Monday, November 10, 1997

Fan Review: St. Andrew's Hall 1997

"Tell me what you've seen, was it a dream, was I in it?" - On Your Own

The following story is TRUE. The names have not been changed because we're all guilty as sin. Don't deny it !! Thank god someone else posted the setlists, because my pen ran dry at St Andrews and my Toronto setlist looks like a grid of scribbles and scratches. So this account of the shows has little accurate information about the music they played, it's just full of details about the one thing I know about - ME! After all, a self absorbed review is the precedent ;-)

First off, when I made my hotel reservations for D a month ago, the city was booked up as far away as the airport. Some convention. I found a co-pilot at the last minute, and knew my chances of exchanging my single room for a double were slim. While checking in, the phone rings and it's someone wishing to downsize their double to a single. From here on I've got a really good feeling about this night, my first Verve show.

Got to the venue around 6:30, circled and found a parking spot on the street, behind the hall. As we passed in front of St Andrews, a film crew has just started interviewing some dude for the documentary. Glad I wasn't the one they chose to have to choke out some wise words on the spot, as I was a bit cold footed, but that was soon to change... Walked inside Steve's Place and found Joe easily: He was wearing the same shirt I was. Settled quickly into a few Labatts, shooting the shit with Joe, his friend (owen?), and Mark, who spur of the moment came up alone, and had scored a ticket already for $20. After a bit Devin joined us (keep going bro! I think we're giving Kentucky a good name), but since he was still looking for a ticket, he only stayed for one. Round about 8:30 I've got my jungle noises working and it's time to get eerie, which we did Spiccoli-style in the van. Headed for the queue, I see Devin just crossing into the pearly gates, "Nice Ticket!" I yell, and he says William Stearns had one for him and generously kicked it down. Well I'll be. That was one of the extra tickets I mailed to William...

Gravitated up front-Left, in front of the speakers. The Deejay was flexing the volume pretty well, ear plugs to the rescue, I can stand where others dare not. By the time Wayne played 'Super Stupid' I was mad for it, jumping hysterically; Security had to make me settle down, as the show hadn't started yet. A few songs later the slide show put up the words "Holy are You" and I shouted out "There is no God but YOU!!" to which I received quite a few looks. Well the madman in me keeps shouting and pointing to every pair of eves "And You, and you...." Shortly after, the band came on, the lights went dark, and then BOOM----BOOM we're rolling! Fucking HUGE. deeply grroovey Catching, Willow created such a strong tone and mood. Ever since I first _really_ wanted to see Verve I've wanted to hear This is Music, and it satisfied that deep need. Sonnet was good, but there was no Wailing guitar before the "dreaming bout the day when I can see you there by my side, by my side" (2:22 into the track, I think) Finally by BSS the buzzcut Gorrilla watching us got called away, and I fired up the 'Kentucky Toothpick' I had squeezed into its wooden holder. Passed it around to some strangers, and when the song ended it was very quiet, so I yelled out "Hey Jonesey!" and held out the doob, like "you wanna hit this?" He nodded emphatically and on my first attempt to throw it to him I dropped it. Picked it up off the floor, and this time it landed at his feet probably scorched the rug. He hit it, passed it to Richey, and hit it again. There's a saying I like to use, instead of "Being on the same page as someone," I say "Smoking from the same bag." So there you have it. my five minutes.

I can see now why many folks say Reprise is a highlight... larger than life. My biggest impression was Richard reminded me of one of those rubber Gumby dolls, he had no bones, just a flexible wire as he contorted himself into twists spaghetti would have a tough time with. I think it was during History the cameraman pointed that thing at me, as I stared into infinity mumbling the words... The sound was overextended, esp. on On Your Own, when one guitar was all they could crank.

After the show I made my way to the car and was sucking down a couple quarts of water when from behind me a bus passes by, and it honks. Cheers Mates! I raised a toast to our rotten souls..

It was so loud, even with my earplugs, I was in my own bubble the next morning as I sat eating breakfast, watching CNN run a story on people who lose their hearing from loud music...

Source: Verve-Tribute: A tribute to what was website

Review by Jason Alex

-------------------------

To all true verve fans looking for concert reviews or getting an idea
to what the set list may be consisted of. If you are or are not
familiar with St. Andrews Hall it is arguably the best place to see a
show in Detroit. The show was sold out with many stragglers looking for
tickets minutes before the show. For one of my lads, he heard two girls
talking about how they were on the guest list. It turned out they had
room for two more people, so my friend jumped in and told the girl he
would give her twenty bucks to get in. Done deal. Now it was a matter of
time before the verve took the stage. We were packed like sardines in
the place all jittery and anxiously awaiting. Let me remind you that the
last American show performed by the verve was in Detroit before there
urban hymns tour. That's a whole other story brother... Anyway while
waiting for the show to begin, the verve had two screens hanging from
the balcony and had pictures of various things on them, including a few
set lists of previous shows which definitely was a tease. Anyway lets
get to the point. Simon led the brigade on stage with Richard wearing
winter coat with a fury hood and wearing a Detroit, Michigan ringer
t-shirt. The first sound out of the Marshall stacks was a booming drum
beat with corresponding light flashes that exploded into the Rolling
People. I have to admit that this was one of the best of the night.
After rolling people they went right into Catching the Butterfly which
also was phenomenal. During these two songs my group was about half way
back from the stage to the exit of the ballroom. The hall consists of a
balcony over the entire floor overlooking the stage and the hall
consists of one main floor which holds about 1000 people. A local radio
station sponsored or propagandized the show so some how some way many
people who maybe shouldn't have been there were. Either that or they all
took downers before the show and then felt like the dog just died. I
mean there wasn't much movement. Therefore when the next song after
C.T.B. came on which was THIS IS MUSIC I rushed toward the stage finding
the thinnest seam in a hookers jeans. I made it to about 5 rows of
people from the stage jumping up in down and when I looked in front of
me and around me I found I was surrounded by girls who didn't know what
the fuck was up being born with a silver spoon. There were a couple us
generating some energy but either people didn't the song or they were
trippin their balls off to where they couldn't move.

The
reason I am going into detail about the crowd is because I believe this
influenced the verve's set list. Because of a more mellow crowd I think
Richard saw an opportunity to experiment with new songs to get a crowd
reaction. After this is music they played four a five new ones in a row
not in this particular order: Bitter Sweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Drugs
Don't Work, Weeping Willow. I know I'm being critical but I wish they
would have mixed it up a little more maybe playing She's a Superstar or A
man called sun. I definitely got the impression that at that point int
time they were going for a mellower mood so why not play something off
the EP (except G/G). Before Sonnet which I believe was the last one in
that list of four songs they did bust into slide away which once again
defines the incredible sound with Richard's clear sounding vocals. After
the last U.H.song of that portion of the show, Richard went for a drink
of water and there was a slight pause in the show. Talking with Peter
and Simon, Richards steps to the mic. and states "Life's an Ocean" and
that baseline that gets me every time was blastin' on the speakers and
it began. This and the next song which was STORMY CLOUDS were drawn out
intense version where McCabe magically created psychedelic and
non-terrestrial sounds that seemed like they were at a Million Decibels.
With the incredible sounds and lights, Richard also was in his own
infinite dimension world. The band walked off leaving McCabe draining
every last sound out of his guitar into the air. These two songs were
just incredible.

Richard then stepped out with his
acoustic which he played previously on SONNET and THE DRUGS DON'T WORK,
and started into a solo ON YOUR OWN. This caught me off guard, but when
the first line was sung, it struck my on your own times and my emotions
were flowing. This song was a treat. You know when you walk out of a
show and you talk about all those songs that stick out and then there's
one that mostly everyone forgets in then one person says "You what was
good, On Your Own" and the response is , Yeah now that was awesome. You
know what I'm talking about. Anyway after that, if my memory serves me
correctly the next song they played was HISTORY. Actually, with the
orchestra in the backing on the album version, and the live version with
a heavy bass and drums, it was pretty good but definitely not at its
full potential. Verve fans if you have noticed there has not been an
incredible amount of full verve jams until Richard stepped to the mic
after history and said "Its time for a NEW DECADE and the radio play is
the sounds we made. As a few in the crowd erupted the movement in the
crowd of 89xsers were weak but I was not going to let this bring me
down. Richard then stated to the crowd how Detroit has been great all
the times they've played (compared to the northern soul tour and palooza
the crowd sure in hell didn't show it) and that he loved Detroit and
promised to return. Then they did a rendition of LUCKY MAN which was
another great song. With a few in the crowd and even some cheeseball
holding up a cardboard sign wanting G/G Simon played the first six notes
in trickery just to tease the crowd. I must get to class so I have to
cut short in detail. The song after lucky man which would be there last
was a psychedelic wall of sound which had Richard using up every last
bit of energy to get the crowd to COME ON. Set list:

How's
YOUR vibe today? Mine is pretty nice since I've spent the last week in
ecstasy...Detroit on Monday, Chicago on Thursday...today is Saturday and
I'm still buzzing.

DETROIT

My first
thought when I woke up that morning was, I made it till Monday...what
an awesome show! Got some decent pictures of Simon and Richard going
into St. Andrew's before the show. I couldn't bring my camera in so
that's all I got on Monday. Plus a picture of me and Kate Radley. She
seemed a bit "distracted" and the picture wasn't all that great, but she
signed my ticket, so that's cool. While I was waiting outside, I heard
the boys play Velvet Morning as a sound check. But they didn't play it!!

Opening with Rolling People was a fantastic choice!
The light show was great! I was definitely pumped to get crazy at that
show. Loved the green and blue lighting for Catching the Butterfly, and
the red lighting for the Drugs Don't Work. I was surprised that Rich
played On Your Own. Still loved it though. Lucky Man sounded awesome
live. Richard was really talkative during the show. You could tell he
was happy to play there. I was so happy that they played Slide Away.
Nice tease there that Simon did with the bass line for Gravity Grave. I
was about ready to die when I heard that. Cheers to the guy who threw
that lit joint on stage. Simon picked it up and hit it so fast, he was a
blur of movement. Come On was incredible. I think everyone on the floor
surged forward about 6 feet when that song started. I was happily
crushed. Wish I could say more about the show but nothing comes to mind
at the moment. DID ANYONE GET A GOOD BOOT OF THIS SHOW?! I know of three
people who made a copy and they said that the bass was too much and
drowned out everything. I WOULD REALLY LIKE A COPY OF THIS SHOW. Please
write to me if you got a good copy.